Golden Child of Jax Music Scene Has Gone Platinum

J. Dash's 'WOP" sells 1 million copies

Today was a typical Monday for J. Dash (or, as I like to refer to him "future Grammy winner J. Dash"). He was driving to his job as a computer engineer at a large Jacksonville company (sorry, can't tell you where lest more groupies find out ... no, really, they already show up there) and got a phone call from Ken Underwood.

"How does it feel to be a platinum [recording] artist?" Underwood said. (J., for those of you who have been living under a very large rock, like, a freaking boulder, is also a Jacksonville-based recording artist best known for his single "WOP" and is part of local band Fusebox Funk.)

J. says he couldn't breathe.

"It's crazy. When the song went gold, I thought it could happen, but I always had this fear in the back of my head that it would sell 999,999 and then people would stop buying it," he says on the phone. "But then the day comes ... I realized this is the day my life is going to change, and it's incredible."

Since its original release several years ago, "WOP" has become nothing short of a phenomenon. Without the support of a major record label, it has been on the Billboard Hot 100 list for 10 weeks, where it's currently #76 (just above Jay-Z and Tim McGraw, FYI). Videos shot by fans all over the world doing the "WOP" have received more than 100 million views on YouTube, and it has become a common trending topic on Instagram and Vine. The song has been featured on NBC's "Today Show," "The Teen Choice Awards" (where audience members set the Guinness World Record for twerking) and in the now infamous Miley Cyrus video.

Underwood, founder and CEO of J.'s record label StereoFame Records, says the accomplishment is especially impressive since StereoFame, based in Ponte Vedra Beach, is an independent label, though, lately, he says, "the majors" have been banging down his door.

"We are currently entertaining proposals from several major labels who are eager to become partners in J. Dash's success," Underwood says. "In fact, J. and I expect to announce a partnership with one of the majors before the end of the month, so stay tuned."

One person who isn't surprised by J's success is his mom. She was the first person he called this morning with the big news to which she replied: "I knew it." She was also the first person to ever hear the song, only a rough cut at the time, and told him then the song would be platinum one day.

As "excited and blessed" as J. is to be in the position that he is at the moment, he says he's the same guy who was recording songs in his dorm room at the University of Florida. "Honestly, any accolade I've ever gotten is just more motivation for me to keep making my dreams come true," he says.

Now his goal of earning a platinum record realized, J. can focus on his next goal: winning a Grammy. Still, he has no plans to leave his day job. "My daughter needs health benefits," he laughs.

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This is a great story and J.Dash deserves all the credit cause he works hard and puts out a great cd. And ms.writer with the dancing skills... you go girl. Hopefully he will be on Oprah somewhere to show that all rappers are not typical.

WE LOVE YOU J.DASH....WHOOT HOOT !!!!! Tuesday, August 13, 2013|Report this

kyleawesomeness

Thanks so much for your comment! I've been a fan of J.'s for years. From the very first time I heard "WOP" I was hooked. He's probably the most talented people I know and one of the nicest. My WOP skills definitely needs some help, but I was sooooo nervous! And for the record, I won the mirror ball trophy and can thank J. for the inspiration. Thanks for reading! Friday, August 16, 2013|Report this